Tuesday, 6 January 2015

Latest Civil War Campaign Diary Entry.

Part 8 of the diary is now ready for your reading pleasure.

Weighing
up the Odds.

Balk
Forest, South of Pocklington

25th
March 1642. 4:00 am.

Colonel
Gryndell, Captain Hotham and four troopers rode out from Balk Forest,
they headed South-East across country, avoiding all roads. Septimus
knew the area very well and knew not only how to get to Twiston Hall
by avoiding the roads, but also the best vantage point to observe the
goings on.

Septimus
was concerned that the latest intelligence he had was now two days
old, many things could have changed in that period, royalist
reinforcements, cancellation of the convoy or a host of other
possibilities. This scouting mission would at least answer the most
important of them.

After
no more than thirty minutes gentle riding, Septimus held up his hand
to halt the small group. 'We are very close Captain, we shall
dismount here and travel the last half a mile on foot. There will no
doubt be sentries and pickets surrounding the hall, so we move
quietly, and in total silence.'

Two men
were detailed off to hold the horses, ready for a hasty retreat if
needed. The four remaining men, led by Septimus, headed into a wooded
area.

After
less than 15 minutes, Septimus once again halted the group with a
raised hand, eyes had now become accustomed to the dark, the pale
light of dawn was still some time off and would not penetrate the
canopy of the wood for another hour or more.

The
group gathered around Septimus, who spoke in a whisper. 'The hall is
just beyond that hedge line,' pointing in the direction they had been
travelling. 'We are in good cover and this vantage point will allow
us to look down a slight fall in the ground to the hall grounds.' He
looked about him, as if able to see through the dark and the
surrounding trees. 'Not a sign of any sentry or picket, most odd,
don't you think captain?'

'Yes
indeed sir, surely they are not so confident in their position to
think they are unapproachable!'

Septimus
rubbed his chin, 'They must know about our force leaving Hull and
then disappearing beyond Beverley. Any commander would be able to
work out the distance such a force could travel and be prepared to
resist it.

Once
again he eyed his surroundings as if expecting a picket to step
forward and challenge them. He smiled at the other three men, 'Maybe
this Sir Royston is as big an imbecile, as I have been informed by
various sources.'

The
faint light of dawn was now creeping across the sky, illuminating the
underside of the clouds. The four men crept slowly toward the hedge
row overlooking the hall and its grounds. Candles were burning in a
number of the rooms and the shapes of men could vaguely be seen
moving about in and around the hall. Horses could also be heard away
in the distance, out of sight. The four men crouched and waited for
the slowly increasing daylight to lay all before them crystal clear.

Twiston
Hall

5:15
am

Sir
Royston was totally unaccustomed to rising so early in a morning,
completely uncivilised. Consequently, he was not in the best of
temper. That damn fool of a major, aided by Captain Parr, had
convinced him to leave soon after daybreak for York, much against his
better judgement, he wanted to arrive just after midday, to achieve
the greatest impact and to be seen by the majority of the population.
Well the two fools waiting downstairs, could wait a damn sight longer
as he intended to eat a hearty breakfast and only then dress and go
down to listen to their requests and seemingly endless problems. It
was a short four hour march to York, how difficult could that be?

It was
in fact one hour later, before Sir Royston met with Major Cunningham
and Captain Parr.

'Sir,
with your permission,' a very agitated Major Cunningham said, 'I
shall send out a troop to scout the road ahead of us, and another
two, one on each flank to protect and warn us of the enemy should he
approach. I shall remain with the final troop as close escort.'

Sir
Royston twisted the points of his moustache, 'My dear Major, you seem
convinced this phantom force of yours is in this vicinity, am I
cowwect?' he said in a quiet, almost friendly tone.

'It is
possibly in this vicinity, on that point you are indeed correct sir.'
The major relaxed slightly.

'Assuming
that this webel force is indeed advancing upon us at this vewy
moment,' Sir Royston continued to sound concerned but relaxed. 'Am I
also cowwect in thinking that we will need evewy man available to
pwotect the wagons?'

The
major wasn't sure where this line of conversation was leading, but
said 'You are indeed correct once again sir.'

Sir
Royston slammed his fist down onto the tabletop, startling both the
other men. 'Then why in God's name do you intend to send thwee
quawters of your twoopers galloping awound the Yorkshire
countwyside?' He shouted.

A
reddening Major Cunningham, finding it hard to control himself,
raised his own voice. 'Sir, they will not be galloping around the
countryside, it is military sense to know what is ahead and to our
flanks, otherwise we could march blindly into a trap!

Sir
Royston jumped to his feet and stood one pace from the now crimson
faced major. 'I want your twoopers awound me and the wagons!' he spat
the words out, if the enemy is appwoaching it will be from the
South-East, the one diwection you are ignowing major. If you must
send out a twoop, then send it to the South-East, because that is the
diwection any enemy is most likely to appwoach from. Do I make myself
clear Mister Cunningham?

The
major had to use all his self control not strike this fool across the
face, he would not waste his career and future chances, he replied
quietly. 'Very clear sir, very clear indeed, I shall not waste
anymore of your time, and will follow your orders. With your
permission, I shall send out a troop to the South-East, as you
suggest.'

'Good,
we seem to understand each other now major, you may indeed send out
that twoop.

A
hedge row, 300 yards away.

6:25
am

It was
now light enough see everything that was happening down below at the
hall. Septimus had watched with mild surprise as a troop of horse
galloped off to the South-East, the opposite direction to which the
wagons and the rest of the force were supposed to be taking.

'Do you
think they have changed their plans sir?' Captain Hotham whispered.

'I
doubt very much they would travel in that direction, it makes no
sense.' Septimus rubbed his chin, as he always did when deep in
thought. 'They must think that our force is somewhere to the
South-East, surely they must know we could be here already.

A
commotion in the grounds brought the attention of all four men back
to the hall. Two limbered wagons had been brought to the front of the
house, and the remaining three troops of the horse regiment were
forming up in column ahead of it, whilst the regiment of foot, drum
beating and flag flying, was also forming a column behind.

Eventually,
a figure, who could only be Sir Royston Twiston-Rawlings emerged from
the hall and was assisted onto his mount. He then moved to the head
of the column and within moments the whole convoy lurched forward,
heading North to join the York Road.

Septimus
stared in disbelief and when he glanced at John Hotham, he could see
the same look of suprise on his face too. That fool Twiston-Rawlings,
had no advance guard nor did it appear, he was going to throw out any
pickets on his flanks.

Captain
Hotham, as though reading his commanders thoughts, said quietly, 'He
must be waiting until he is closer to the York Road, before sending
out scouts ahead and to his flanks.'

'Maybe
John, maybe.' Septimus was watching the column snaking away into the
distance. But no pickets or sentries guarded these woods overlooking
the hall last night, a troop of horse sent off in the opposite
direction to what is required. Unless this Sir Royston has some trick
up his sleeve we haven't discovered, then the man is an idiot.'

The
four of them made their way quickly through the wood to the two
waiting troopers and their horses.

Two
troopers were instructed to shadow the column and to immediately
return to Balk Wood if scouts and flankers were thrown out when the
column reached the York Road. Septimus, John and the two remaining
troopers headed back across country to rejoin their men.

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Just ramblings about my growing collection of 28mm miniatures, mainly English Civil War.

A 63 year old schoolboy who likes painting and playing war games with model soldiers.

I served in the Royal Navy, Humberside Police Force and for the past fifteen years, as a teaching assistant at a local Primary School. I have now retired from work.

Married for 39 years, my wife sadly suffered a stroke nine years ago, which has confined her to a wheelchair.

I have recently started a blog 'My 28mm Soldier Journey' which shows lots of photographs, battle reports, what I am currently painting and a fictional diary of The War of the Three Kingdoms, better known as the English Civil War. I also have two large 6mm armies for the American Civil War as well as a large number of 28mm Wars of the Roses figures, the latter being used for an imagi-nation type narrative known as The Saga of Yolare. A medieval Arab army has joined the ranks and I am also venturing into the American War of Independence and its forerunner the French & Indian War in 28 mm. Now embarking on a 10mm Napoleonic journey.